Don’t look back The Good Shepherd leads his flock to still waters
Greetings to all faithful readers of this monthly, diocesan, catholic publication: ‘Upon this Rock.’ While Fr. Stuart is on a well-deserved extended break, I will write the Foreword. So, please, fear not. I trust you will not mind me standingin.
2
we
time given to us?
How shall May Peace and Goodness fall upon you dear reader.
I
pray that these words will find you all healthy and in good spirits. It is incredible that another month has gone by; here we are with another editorial! I believe that the older you get; the passage of time accelerates. This reminds me of an excerpt in Tolkien’s book: “The Lord of the Rings”:
Tweet with us!
use the
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
@uponthisrockmag
This exchange occurs in Book 1, Chapter 2, as Gandalf explains the history of the Ring to Frodo. The “it” to which Frodo refers is the finding of the Ring by Gollum, as well as the return of Sauron. Gandalf’s response to Frodo’s lament is at once heroic and fatalistic. The wizard’s words are heroic because they insist that one must rise to the challenge offered by one’s time. At the same time, however, there is
Photo: Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
also the suggestion that one is born at a particular time and in a particular place for a certain preordained purpose. The decision is, of course, not one’s own to make; however, Gandalf does imply that it is a decision that is made somewhere—that Gandalf and Frodo’s “time” has been “given” to them. J. R. R. Tolkien literary works are widely known, what is less well known is that this fiction of such incredible widespread appeal is infused with the author’s Catholic faith. My personal opinion: Tolkien goes to the heart of the Catholic ethos; whatever timespan of life we may possess, it is to be put into the good service of
God and neighbour. This is the quality of life that Tolkien is alluring to. Again, this is my personal opinion. All this has a crucial bearing in the life circumstances that we are all experiencing today! With our movement curtailed, what else can we do to enrich that “time allotted to us”? Despite how we may feel and the environment that we find ourselves in, we must rise to the occasion, for example spending our time wisely, prudently and generously. I can anticipate the response: easier said than done! I can most definitely understand that we may have to live through extremely trying times. These
can have a most debilitating and alienating effect on us. Goodness, yes, the situation can be most demoralising. Still, I
would insist, that the contrary to what Tolkien suggests is far worse.
Editor: Fr. S. Chipolina: editor@uponthisrock.gi. Interim Editor Fr. Michael Bonifacio. Production Editor: A. Sargent: angela@europeaxess.com. Upon this Rock magazine is entirely supported by advertising and donations. It is run in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar by EuropeAxess Media Ltd., as a not-for-profit project. For Advertisers: This magazine is hand-delivered to homes, many businesses around Gibraltar every month Covid-19 guidelines permitting. To discuss your advertising requirements, or promote your church group or charity, call Tel: +350 200 79335 email: angela@europeaxess.com. Editorial is selected by EuropeAxess Media in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar. Neither of these parties is responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein, nor do the views and opinions expressed herein necessarily reflect the views and opinions of either party. Advertisers are not endorsed by virtue of advertising in this magazine. EuropeAxess Media Ltd. reserves the right to refuse space to any submissions or advertisements. Efforts have been made to establish copyright owners of images, but if we have used your material, and have not credited you, please contact us to discuss restoration. Cover: My Shepherd © Wanda Bush
Missing magazines? See the #staysafe digital April & May issues of Upon This Rock magazine online www.uponthisrock.gi
Join us on Facebook
3
Father Grima Commended to God
H
is Lordship spoke very highly of Monsignor Coronato, praising his tireless devotion to duty, that even while poorly in his later years, he continued to con-celebrate Mass and hear Confession despite the burden of his illness, even when he could not speak. The Bishop sadly remarked that an era had come to an end, saying “no more letters from Malta.� Every allocated seat in the Cathedral was taken with many people standing, two meters apart, at the back of the church. Although the weather was very warm there was a merciful breeze in the Cathedral, but wind seemed to wail around the roof at that moment and the soulful cry of a seagull was heard.
4
A Requiem Mass for Monsignor Coronato Grima was held at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned on 28th July 2020. His Lordship Bishop Carmel Zammit gave the homily.
Upon This Rock is online
T
he death of Mgr. Coronato Grima, Fr. Grima, as he was known, has brought to the mind of many, the wonderful attributes of the priestly life which he so humbly and consistently personified.
Fr. Grima was so well known here in Gibraltar that no matter how much we write about him, there will always be other untold stories and anecdotes that many readers will remember about him. Throughout the years his dedication to his ministry became, as someone recently wrote, a legend. Just three months after being ordained priest by Pope Paul VI (now St. Paul VI) in St. Peter’s Square Rome, the young, newly ordained Fr. Grima (along with a number of other young priests from Malta) came to assist in Diocese of Gibraltar at the request of the then Bishop Rapallo. They came for one year, Fr. Grima served the community of Gibraltar for 33 years.
This saintly priest from Gozo, Malta, arrived in Gibraltar with little experience of the priesthood, in contrast he brought a huge personal experience of love and devotion to Our Lord and, in a very special way, to His Blessed Mother. His devotion to the Virgin Mary characterised his priestly life. Love for Christ, devotion and obedience were the hallmark of his priestly ministry. Whatever activity or duty he engaged in he carried out faithfully and full of love to those he was administering to, he saw Jesus in everyone. He carried out his duties with, one can say, military precision. If he was entrusted with visiting the sick in hospital, he would go at the same times and days of the week, without fail; you could always depend on him. The same applied with all his undertakings. When he wasn’t ministering to those in hospital, the elderly
residing in care agencies or at home, prisoners, the sick at home or students in schools or whatever other activity, he was always to be found in church, in his beloved St. Joseph’s Parish Church in the south district of Gibraltar. Rosary in hand, he prayed constantly and was always available for confessions or any other matter requiring his attention. It was well known that he did not drive but he did not walk either, instead he had a legion of volunteer drivers who would ferry him around town carrying out his ministry. Often, as soon as he entered a car he would say in that deep voice of him, “Rosario” and started praying the Rosary together with his ‘duty’ driver. I once asked him about those who helped him and he replied, “you see Mario most of those who assist me in my ministry by driving me to different places are retired persons and they now work with me for God”. Always evangelising his flock in his own way. I could go on forever talking about this saintly priest – he developed a unique style of giving himself to others for the faith - he gave his all, never less, always his utmost. Even in his last days in Malta, he
www.uponthisrock.gi
would go to St. George’s Basilica and there hear confessions for hours every day. Due to his illness he could hardly talk, however there were always queues waiting for him to hear their confessions – as always with him, it was not about what he had to say to them but rather it was making himself available so that others could reconcile with Christ. Never failing in evangelising by example.
I conclude this obituary with Fr. Grima’s well known phrase: “We continue to pray for each other”. My friend, from your place in Heaven, please continue to pray for us until we meet again. Mario Hook
Photos of Fr. Grima courtesy of Adrian Hewitt
5
MoroccanChristians repeatedly arrested
Jawad Elhamidy, (above) president of the Moroccan Association of Rights and Religious Liberties, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that Christian converts have been arrested up to three times a week and subjected to harassment while at police stations. Most are released after interrogation – but are often put under pressure to return to Islam, and face abuse when they refuse. Mr Elhamidy said: “The penal code holds that all Moroccans are Muslims, so those who convert to Christianity face legal problems, beside threats to their security.” He added that it is even more dangerous for Christian converts when allegations of blasphemy are made – Christians have been held for several days and there have been incidents of violence. The human rights activist said that police have also threatened spouses and children with arrest.
6
Jawad Elhamidy © Aid to the Church in Need
Converts to Christianity in Morocco have been repeatedly arrested by police as part of a campaign clamping down on the Faith.
Mr Elhamidy told the story of Mohamed Al Moghany, a Muslim convert to Christianity from Al Hajeb city, whose employer had waved a gun at him and threatened to kill him. When Mr Al Moghany filed a complaint with police, he was told not to speak about his conversion and threats were made against his family. Six months later, following an argument with his employer, he was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison. His wife was interrogated as well. Other than Islam, the only legally recognised religion is Judaism – although foreign Christians living and working in the country are permitted freedom of worship. Mr Elhamidy told ACN that there are two Christian communities in Morocco – foreigners who live in the country and Moroccans who have converted to Christianity from Islam. It is estimated that 30,000 foreign residents are Catholic and 10,000 are Protestant. The number of indigenous Moroccan Christians is an estimated 8,000, though some sources put that number as high as 25,000 out of a total population of 34.6 million.
Unlike foreign Christians, converts do not enjoy freedom of worship under the law.
Vatican News
Engy Magdy & John Newton describe how Bishop Carmel Zammit’s
house churches to avoid state sanctions or harassment from society.” Foreign clergy are said to discourage Moroccan Christians from attending their churches because of fear of being criminally charged with proselytism. Under Moroccan law, proselytising or converting to another religion is a criminal offence punishable by between six months and three years in prison. According to Elhamidy, Church leaders receive a weekly warning from the authorities not to welcome Moroccans, or they will be charged with proselytising. The government also restricts the distribution of non-Islamic religious materials,
Mr Elhamidy said: “If a Moroccan enters a church, one of two things can happen – either a policeman sitting in front of the church arrests him or her, or the cleric in charge of the church asks the person to leave, unless the purpose is tourism.” He added: “Moroccan Christians worship in secret
Tweet with us!
@uponthisrockmag
as well as Islamic materials it deems are inconsistent with the Maliki-Ashari school of Sunni Islam. According to the Moroccan Association of Human Rights’ 2018-19 report, Shia Islam is denigrated in the media and in Friday sermons.
While in Morocco last year, Pope Francis talked about the dialogue between Muslims and Christians.
The Holy Father had a two-day schedule in the Arab country and celebrated a Mass in Rabat at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium for approximately ten thousand people from 60 different countries, according to information published by Vatican News.
Lenten appeal funds are badly needed to help rebuild Church communities affected by persecution and the Covid-19 pandemic
ACNboosts Church’s COVIDhelpin Bangladesh andbeyond
PPE for priests and religious, reaching out to some of the poorest families in Bangladesh, forms part of a raft of aid programmes sent out this month by the UK arm of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
Projects announced in July this year by the UK office of Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) include initiatives to help the Church respond to the COVID-19 pandemic – with support going to keep priests and religious in Bangladesh’s Barisal Diocese safe from coronavirus while
ministering to a community badly hit by the crisis. Bishop Lawrence Subrato Howlader (above) of Barisal told ACN: “As soon as the pandemic started, the Barisal Catholic Diocese tried to stand by the people so that they could control the spread of coronavirus.” The bishop went on to describe how, in consultation with medical experts, the diocese has bought medicines and personal protective equipment for every parish. Bishop Howlader said: “With protective equipment, the parish priests feel secure to respond to sick calls and provide viaticum, go to funerals, the religious who
are nurses feel confident to take care of patients with safety and without spreading the virus.” The PPE will also be used by clergy and other Church workers distributing food to the poor. Bishop Howlader said that with lockdown: “[People] cannot go for work and therefore, no salary is given to them. Farmers and small traders are also in trouble as they cannot sell their products without transportation. Without any income families are starving.” Religious are providing food parcels including half a kilogram of rice, 250g of lentils, and 2kg of potatoes for extremely poor families belonging to the
The world is largely silent in the face of Christian persecution. The scale of the problem is so great, silence is no longer acceptable. Persecuted Christians need YOU - and all of us! Together our prayers and actions can make a difference. You can PLEDGE YOUR SOLIDARITY by: • Praying ACN’s Prayer found in leaflets in your local Church, or your own prayers for Persecuted Christians in danger. • Sharing this article and Christian Persecution facts with others so that all understand the need.
Set up a monthly gift:
Bishop Carmel Zammit Lenten Appeal for‘Aid to the Church in Need’, Gibraltar International Bank, Account Name: ‘Trustees RCC/CAN’ Account Number: 00812022, Sort Code: 60-83-14.
ACN has announced a £4.38m COVID-19 emergency aid programme.
Join us on Facebook
Rakhine, Bormon and Tripma tribes.
Neville Kyrke-Smith, national director of Aid to the Church in Need (UK), said: “At a time of the coronavirus crisis, I am deeply touched that our benefactors have continued to support our work with the suffering Church. “We have included help for dioceses and communities supporting those who are struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic as part of our latest aid package. “Mass offerings to support priests have also been vital during the COVID-19 pandemic – they are often their only source of income – and last month we provided more than 185,000 stipends”. Other aid in ACN (UK)’s July package included subsistence aid for the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who are supporting poor communities in rural areas during the pandemic, the formation of the novices at Argentina’s Abba Padre Monastery and the renovation of the Greek Catholic church in Beius, Romania.
7
Spotlight on a Christian Artist
For the
Glory of
God
Wanda Bush’s Exhibition at the John Mackintosh Hall made a sacred statement.
8
H
is Lordship Bishop Carmel Zammit was among many V.I.P guests who visited the art exhibition earlier this Summer.
The planning had not gone smoothly, Covid-19 was but one of the complications that had conspired to make it as hard as possible for Wanda to get her exhibition up and running. It was the culmination of four years work, involving planning for different venues, then due to different issues with
her dates being chopped and changed, in the end she was fortunate enough to get exactly the place she had hoped for in the beginning. But for Wanda, it had never been just about her art, from the very outset she intended the exhibition to be an evangelistic event. To raise funds for a charity that is very important to her and to anyone who has struggled with mental health issues, the very deserving Clubhouse Gibraltar. Almost £4000 was raised and they are still taking donations. All of the pieces at the exhibition were shown with bible references, and visitors were able to look up the relevant quotations from bibles which she provided. Visitors often spoke about their own relationship with God. There were those who had not handled a bible or stepped into a church for years but here in the special atmosphere that Wanda and her team had created with the beautiful and colourful images, linked to sacred scripture, they felt safe
enough to explore their own relationships with their Faith. Wanda found she was able to pray with some visitors. Others were moved to tears by something they found at the exhibition. The artworks featured here were inspired by Janet Pardo’s Christian poetry which we could not include due to space constraints. Wanda’s own Faith shines out of her countenance. One wants to know more about this special lady. LONG ROOTS IN GIBRALTAR With the exhibition a warm memory, we sat in a café on Main Street early on a Friday evening as the sun was beginning its descent, with refreshments before us as Wanda related about her family’s history on the Rock “My great-grandfather had something to do with the racecourse which was on the current airstrip. I believe he may have been a caretaker and they lived in a cottage at the far
Upon This Rock is online
Artist’s Images: Front Cover, My Shepherd. Left to right, Self Portrait with son, The River, Angel Worship II, Swallowtail Butterfly (detail)
end of the racecourse (that was what I was told). He was called Johnnie Walker - he was given the nick-name ‘Whisky’! The Walkers were a big family that lived in Rosia, Wanda’s mother was one of 14 brothers and sisters. She and her sister went to London to work and live and there she met Wanda’s father, Bruce Setter. After they were married they were blessed with two boys before returning to Gibraltar in the late 1950s. Her parents lived in The Cottage on Montagu Bastion (now the Emile Hostel on Line Wall Road). Wanda and her younger brother Bruce were born there. “I recall living in The Cottage on Line Wall and have fond memories of those times. Unfortunately, my parents split up when I was 10 years old and we had to leave our home. We went to live in England then but as soon as I was 18 I decided to return to Gibraltar and all my family returned gradually over the next few years. My cousin is also called Johnnie Walker.”
painting all her life. She loves painting outdoors and finds Gibraltar’s location provides great opportunities for fresh ideas. Wanda studied Fine Art at the Gibraltar College of Further Education and gained valuable experience under the tuition of other local artists such as Willa Vasquez, Olympia Reyes, John Culatto, Vin Mifsud and Ambrose Avellano. She has participated in many competitions and exhibitions in Gibraltar, Spain and Italy. She gained her first Highly Commended award in a Heritage Trust Competition in 1999 and went on to win 1st Prize in 2018. Her artworks
have also won awards from the Fine Arts Association, The Spring Exhibition, the International Exhibition in the Garrison Library. Wanda’s first commission was from Raffles Restaurant on Queensway Quay, in 1995, which was subsequently used for their marketing. She has undertaken various large mural commissions in more recent years and assisted her son in his artistic projects (see opposite page) including the street-art mural in the tunnel at Alameda Gardens and the MTV Music Festival. In 2000 Wanda was a founding member of the Fine Arts Association which operates from the Fine Arts Gallery in Casemates. WALKING WITH GOD Many readers will remember the Johnnie Walker slogan ‘Keep Walking’ which was part of a campaign 1999 - 2015. Wanda has certainly kept walking with the Lord. She was first surprised to know that God was real, that he heard her and saw her when she was only 10
years old. “I prayed for God to help me when I was in trouble. I got down on my knees and prayed. He saved me there and then. My family were not believers and did not attend church.” She tells us “I was born again in my late 20s when I attended a Life in the Spirit Seminar in the retreat house downstairs in St. Joseph’s Church. It was a very moving and unforgettable experience.” Now Wanda describes herself as “an avid lover of all things God created and nature.” TO FIND OUT MORE AND COMMISSION ARTWORKS Wanda’s website is: www. Gibraltarartists.gi she also has a Facebook page BushArt where we can see projects she has been involved in. www. gibraltarartists.gi CLUBHOUSE DONATIONS Donations can still be made to Clubhouse Gibraltar via their website, donate page: https://clubhousegibraltar. com/donate/
CREATIVE CAREER Wanda is a passionate Gibraltarian artist who has been
www.uponthisrock.gi
9
S
l l a m s A t a o b d e paint
tanding on the sea shore my thoughts were lost in the crash of Levanter waves.
Not a day for swimming, more a day for reflection as I idly wandered. Smashed waves frothed around my bare feet and chased each other back to sea in lacy rivulets. Ah the sea, billions of years old, and according to Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) “The sea is the same today as it has been since before man ever
10
went to sea on it in boats”. The Ancient Greeks, among others, were in awe of the sea, to such an extent that they believed that man no longer belonged to himself once he undertook a voyage. They feared the anger of the great Sea God as he could strike at any time and sacrifice them to his watery depths. Maritime history takes us back thousands of years and earliest sea crossings took place perhaps 53,000-65,000 years ago.
Tweet with us!
Nearer our own time, a mere seven years ago, though overtaken by many earth shattering events, and of course Covid-19 is dominant, a ship wreck took place on October 3, 2013, followed a few days later by another human tragedy off the coast of Lampedusa. The world had not heard of this tiny island, just twenty square kilometres on the southern most point of Italy. This semi arid rocky island dominated by deep gorges, shallow valleys, sandy beaches and sheer cliffs was considered the Gateway to Europe, the promised land of plenty and better lives for all who were desperate enough to undertake these dangerous crossings. Hundreds, perhaps thousands leave North Africa and political conflicts and flee to this promised land of Europe. A journey of 205 kilometres south of Sicily and 113 kilometres from the African coast. Although part of Italy, ironically, Lampedusa geographically belongs to Africa since the sea between the two is no deeper than 120 meters. A mere paddle across one could assume. Ah, but the sea, the ever restless sea sets its own agenda and ship wrecks are as old as man’s history on the sea.
@uponthisrockmag
Crammed into overcrowded barges that are not sea worthy, these decrepit vessels ferry migrants across the Mediterranean where there are great unknowns since time immemorial. There were 518 desperate souls on that dilapidated barge, and 359 would lose their lives in sight of that spit of an island which promised so much hope. I paused in my wandering as the gulls added their raucous cry to that of the blustery day and crashing waves. The thought of those poor lost souls weighed heavily and as we try to escape the clutches of Covid-19 our sorrowful world is in need of consolation and joy. We all love to celebrate a birthday, so, September 8th is Our Lady’s, a day to give thanks for this child whose birth was to bring joy in preparation for the coming of Christ. The thought brought some solace to a bruised heart. Pope Francis described his sorrow as “a thorn in the heart” as he came to Lampedusa, his first official trip outside Rome since his election in March. He came in true compassion and empathy for the dead. “Immigrants dying at sea in boats which were vehicles of hope to become vehicles of death”. He began by laying a wreath in the sea as a sign of mourning to commemorate more than 20,000 lives lost here in vain attempts to reach Europe. “We pray for hearts which will embrace immigration” The small island at the time was little more than a scrap
Anne Mesilio writes
yard of old boats, a poignant reminder of lost hopes. Francis, descended from immigrants, denounced the traffickers; “We have lost a sense of brotherly responsibility”. He celebrated Mass near a ‘boat cemetery’ where the bones of ship wrecked migrant boats lie forlornly, bleached by the relentless sun. His altar was a small boat painted in Italian colours, his chalice of wood was carved by a local fisherman using wood from a migrant vessel.
It had to be the most simple yet heart rending tribute to those who had so needlessly died, leaving behind tears and sorrow in bereft families whose hopes sank beneath the waves with the dead. I am not sure why these memories and images called to me from across a rather turbulent Mediterranean as by now I walked alone along the unsettled shore. The Popes words called to me too; “I felt I should go; the news of the migrants that died, engulfed
in the sea, touched and moved me — children, women, young men … a heart-breaking tragedy. They are persons; these are not mere social or migrant issues!” Before he left the island his parting words still echo;
“Before imparting my blessing to you I want to thank you once again; you people of Lampedusa, for the example of love, charity and hospitality that you have set us and are still setting us.” The Bishop said “Lampedusa is a beacon. May this example be a beacon that shines throughout
Join us on Facebook
the world, so that people will have the courage to welcome those in search of a better life. Thank you for bearing this witness”! Is that what I was doing this day, bearing witness to my own vulnerability, sharing this most traumatic of human tragedies with you to keep empathy alive for fellow humans? I hope so because suffering from ‘compassion fatigue’ I echo the Popes words; “Have we forgotten how to cry?” Images: Opposite page, footsteps on the seashore ©Maryna Konoplytska | Dreamstime.com. This page, preparations for the Pope’s Mass at Lampedusa, ©AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia
11
Surgeon’s Hand image ©Sherry Young | Dreamstime.com
G OR AN
Part Three on
DONATION Does it matter whether or not death has occurred prior to vital organ removal for donation?
Last month we looked at Brain Death and the difficulty the medical profession has in diagnosing whether or not this has already irreversibly occurred.
W
e linked this to the practice of removing vital organs from donors who have been diagnosed Brain Dead, and highlighted some of the disturbing moral issues that this has raised. This is clearly an area that medical science urgently needs to address, as any doubt about death having occurred prior to vital organ removal is unacceptable. The worrying consequences of these doubts have prompted numerous possible “solutions” to be proposed by medical practitioners, medical scientists, and ethicists. One of these “solutions,” supported by an increasing lobby of professionals, is very worrying indeed. This proposal is that the removal of vital organs from dying but not dead humans be legalised. A second worrying development has been the increasing misuse of the diagnosis of Brain Death to practice illegal euthanasia by an underhand “back-door”
12
method. It is important that we examine the morality of both these practices.
The legalization of the removal of vital organs from dying humans. For many years now senior medical professionals, scientists, and ethicists, have searched for and suggested possible solutions to the uncertainty surrounding Brain Death, but despite this they have not yet managed to provide any solution that will be widely accepted. The definition of Brain Death is already accepted by the majority of countries worldwide but has proved very difficult to diagnose accurately. One of the suggested “solutions” to the problem of certainty in the diagnosis of Brain Death is the call for the legalization of the removal of vital organs from those who are considered to be in the process of dying. Wilkinson and Savulescu are two such experts. They called for the law to be changed in order to permit this. They state that this would help increase the availability of donated organs, increase patient autonomy, and reduce suffering during the dying process.i Although there is little convincing evidence to support their arguments. Others have repeated the same call in the American Journal of Bioethics. Doctors Neil Lazar, Maxwell Smith, and David RodriguezArias openly admit that under current practices donors may still be technically alive when their organs are harvested, and argue that such a change in law
would rectify this problem.ii Once again, they are unable to produce evidence that could justify such a drastic and unprecedented change in the law, one that would seriously undermine the doctor/patient trusting relationship. The Catholic Church holds that all human life is sacred, that life is of God, and is a freely given gift that it is only God’s to give and to take away again. All humans are the custodians of the life gifted to them by God, with the responsibilities and obligations that come with this. The above teaching was clearly expressed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1987 when it declared in “Donum Vitae”: “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.”iii The Congregation went on to address the very issue we are examining here, saying that civil society and the political authorities “must recognize and respect the rights of the person”, and must not attempt through civil law to take the place of our consciences. Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen a continual erosion of these rights, as we have witnessed so recently both in the UK and in Gibraltar in relation to abortion and assumed donor consent. The scriptural basis for the Church’s teaching on these
matters can be found in such places as Exodus 20:13: “You shall not kill,” and again at the giving of the Fifth Commandment: “Do not slay the innocent and the righteous.” Later, in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel, we are told “You shall not kill: and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.” (Mat. 5:21). Returning to the call for the removal of the “Dead Donor Rule”, the rule that states that vital organs for donation can only be taken post death, it is obvious from the above that if an individual is still alive at the time of vital organ removal, then the cause of their death would be the removal of organs, rather than anything else. The Catholic Church has clearly and often stated its support for the act of donating organs for the benefit of others. The Catechism of the Catholic Church stating that “Organ transplants are in conformity with the moral law if the physical and psychological dangers and risks to the donor are proportionate to the good sought for the recipient. Organ donation after death is a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity. It is not morally acceptable if the donor or his proxy has not given explicit consent.”iv This quotation makes it very clear that when vital organs are removed death must have occurred prior to this removal, as otherwise the “good sought for the recipient” cannot be as great as the cost of the donor’s own life. Pope Saint John Paul II in 1991 also emphasized this fact when he said that vital organs can only be removed following a donor’s death.”v Pope Saint John Paul II repeated this in 2000 when he stated that “vital organs which occur singly in the body can be removed only after death, that is from the body of someone who is certainly dead;”vi and Pope Benedict XVI added his own emphasis in 2008 when he stated that: “It is helpful to remember however that the individual vital organs cannot be extracted except ex cadaver.”vii
Upon This Rock is online
Rev. Dr. Bernard Farrell-Roberts MA STL PhD Deacon It is very clear then that the removal of the “Dead Donor Rule” would be totally unacceptable morally.
Anticipating Death: “Back Door Euthanasia”. This too is something that is totally unacceptable morally. Sacred Scripture tells us in the Acts of the Apostles that: ‘No one, however, can arbitrarily choose whether to live or die; the absolute master of such a decision is the Creator alone, in whom “we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) In 1995 Pope Saint John Paul II addressed the possibility of “Back Door Euthanasia” in “Evangelium Vitae”, expressing his concern he said: “Nor can we remain silent in the face of other more furtive, but no less serious and real, forms of euthanasia. These could occur when, in order to increase the availability of organs for transplants, organs are removed without respecting objective and adequate criteria which verify the death of the donor.”viii He believed that death was
held by many to be a senseless occurrence that brought to an end a life of pleasure seeking, and that a natural consequence of this understanding was that when faced with the illness or discomforts often associated with old age, death may be seen as an attractive liberation from their “senseless” suffering. He predicted the development of the trend that we see in modern society that demands the right to end one’s life if one is suffering, a trend and desire that often appears today in the media and in governmental debate, a trend that is morally unacceptable to the Catholic Church, and one that is a grave violation of the law of God. Today the concerns about the practice of “Back Door Euthanasia.” as both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict called it, have become more acute, as the deliberate ending of a patient’s life in order to “harvest” their vital organs has now appeared in many authoritative publications, even such as the Journal of Medical Ethics,ix and the British Medical Journal, where Dr. Darshak
Sanghavi, chief of paediatric cardiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, discussed the legalization of this practice.x It is very important not to confuse this issue with the perfectly acceptable and legitimate use of painkillers in order to control suffering, even though their use could bring about the death of the individual. The justification here lies in the intention behind the act. If the intention is to shorten or end the patient’s life, then this is totally unacceptable from a moral perspective and must not be allowed. However, if the intention is to ease unacceptably burdensome pain for a patient, the subsequent death of the patient then becomes an undesirable by-product of a morally justifiable action. In part four, the final part of this discussion about Organ Donorship, I shall discuss the amazing successes of medical engineering as it seeks to reduce the requirement for vital organs from donors.
www.uponthisrock.gi
i. Wilkinson D, Savulescu J. “Should we allow organ donation euthanasia? Alternatives for maximizing the number and quality of organs for transplantation”. Bioethics 2012; 26: 32–48. ii. David Rodríguez-Arias 1, Maxwell J Smith, Neil M Lazar, “Donation after circulatory death: burying the dead donor rule”. Am J Bioeth, 2011 Aug;11(8):36-43 iii. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Donum vitae”, Rome: Vatican City, (1987): Intro 5. iv. Catechism of the Catholic Church p.2296. v. John Paul II, “To the participants at the first International Congress on the Transplant of Organs” vi. “Address of the Holy Father John Paul II to the 18th International Congress of the Transplantation Society” August 2000, Vatican City. vii. Benedict XVI, “Address to Organ Donation Conference” Vatican City, 2009. viii. Saint John Paul II, Pope, “Evangelium Vitae” (1995) Catholic Truth Society, London, 15. ix. John Stanley, Ed., “Developing Guidelines for the Decision to Forgo Life Prolonging Medical Treatment” Journal of Medical Ethics 18, September 1982: 129-136. x. John Stanley ed. “Decisions Involving Patients Who Have Decision-Making Capacity or Patients Who have Executed an Advance Directive Before Losing this Capacity (1)” British Medical Journal 18 Sup. Pt. 1 no.7 Note 15 (1992):6-9
13
NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA CABEZA
The Church of
The History of Gibraltar’s Churches serialised by the author, Manolo Galliano
Continuing a new series of articles especially edited for Upon This Rock readers, dedicated to the history of Gibraltar’s many churches and chapels – not only those which are in existence in the present day, but also the very many religious establishments which were the centre of daily life on the Rock since the early 14th century.
F
ollowing the reconquest of Gibraltar by the Moors, the church became a mosque once more until the Rock was re-captured by the Castilians on 20th August 1462 and the building reverted back to a Christian place of worship. The name given to this church was that of Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza [Our Lady of La Cabeza], which pertains to a Marian cult centred in the Cerro del Cabezo ridge in the
Sierra de Andújar, Jaén, where the Virgin was said to have appeared to a shepherd, called Juan Alonso de Rivas. This became a fairly common name for churches founded at the time in the various towns and cities wrested from the Moors by Christian forces. One of the very few references to the church is contained in a plea made on 9th August 1623 to the Diocesan Court of Cádiz, by a soldier who had
Part Two
been imprisoned after seeking sanctuary there, following a brawl.
The Right of Sanctuary was based on a medieval law in which any person, persecuted by Justice, could take refuge under the protection of a church or monastery, whilst proceedings were initiated in an Ecclesiastical court. In August 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession, the Rock was captured by a joint Anglo-Dutch fleet, following an intensive bombardment of the City in which many buildings were destroyed or seriously damaged. However, it appears that the Church of Our Lady of La Cabeza did not suffer any significant damage, mainly due to its elevated position behind the protection of the Castle walls. Prior to the mass exodus of the inhabitants, most of whom preferred to depart rather
14
Tweet with us!
@uponthisrockmag
Left: Mass card depicting Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza Above: The church situated within the Middle Castle, circled in red than to remain under a foreign military rule, many of the more moveable sacred objects of the churches and chapels of Gibraltar were removed and taken away for safekeeping. María de Ferrera, the caretaker of the church who had left for Estepona, when later questioned by church officials, stated in an affidavit ‘that realising that the place had been lost, she collected all the following items: a silver lamp, a silver sceptre, a silver crown, a small silver bowl, some silver candelabra, large candles (of one pound in weight each), a silver alms dish, a
chalice with its paten, a bursa for the corporals in white damask, a blouse belonging to the image of Our Lady and some underskirts in open-work holland linen, with trimmings on its edges, a turquoise tunic, a doublet and cloak and a scarlet satin veil embroidered with green and white flowers and fine gold lace.’ She added that she had handed these items over to the Elder Brother and Steward of the church. It was later discovered that the latter also ‘had in his possession a chest which contained a great amount of alms for Our Lady of La Cabeza, as was the norm on
the return of fishing vessels… to pay for the Masses which were celebrated on all feast days in the church.’ Years later, in 1716, many of these sacred ornaments, which had been retrieved and stored in Cádiz, were sent to the Hermitage of San Roque, including ‘a small image of the Child Jesus, together with its silver crown.’ The building itself soon appeared to have fallen into rack and ruin and over the years, as a result of continuous works in the vicinity of the Upper Ward of the Moorish Castle, including the construction of 19th century
military quarters and the Moorish Castle Housing Estate, all trace of this ancient structure were lost forever.
To be continued.
This history of Gibraltar’s churches is comprised of extracts from the following series of books, written by the author of these articles and published by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust - ‘Under the Shadow of the Crescent and the Cross’, ‘The Franciscan Monastery of Gibraltar’, ‘Of Monks and Nuns’ and ‘Mirrors of Sanctity’ The photographs and illustrations in these articles are by Victor M. Hermida L.R.P.S. These books are available at the Gibraltar Heritage Trust Shop.
FUNDING AVAILABLE
The Christian Mission Trust provides local Christians with donations for evangelistic initiatives and outreaches. The Trust is ecumenical and has provided money to many groups, individuals and churches during the last 12 years. It is run by a Board of Trustees. We invite applications for funding from anyone who wishes to launch an evangelistic initiative or who needs support for an existing Christian missionary activity.
Please write to: The Chairman, Christian Mission Trust, 4 South Pavilion Road, Gibraltar. Join us on Facebook
15
Community Page
The Cornerstone Bookshop is a Catholic/ Christian bookshop. We stock religious books for children and adults, booklets, CDs, DVDs and Nativity sets. We also sell Gift Vouchers! For opening hours please call: 200 50795
Tweet with us!
@uponthisrockmag